Apparatus for blowing soot from the tubes of boilers



C. M. GARLAND.

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING 500T FROM THE TUBES 0F BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1916. RENEWED JULY 14. 1920.

1 &l6,558, Patented May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETSS HEET 1.

VENTOR. WITNESSES:

C. M. GARLAND.

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING SOOT FROM THE TUBES OF BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, 1916. RENEWED JULY14, 1920.

1L ,%1 6, 5 5 38 a Patented May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I INVENTOR. WITNESSES rarest crates.

Mamas stares CLAUDE M. GARLAND, 01E CHICAGO, ILLIHOIfi.

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING SO01 FROM THE TUBE OF BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1922.

Application filed February 7, 1916, Serial No. 76,611. Renewed July 14, 1920. Serial 3T0. 396,330.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful im-' provements in apparatus for blowing soot from the tubes of boilers, economizers, and other apparatus in which heat is applied in the form of furnace gases, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to apparatus which are ordinarily termed soot blowers, and have for their object the continuous and efiicient removal of soot and other solid matter from thetubes and other parts of boilers, economizers and other apparatus of like nature.

At the present time soot blowers are used for this purpose and consist of steam or air nozzles adapted to discharge a jet of steam or air upon the surfaces to be cleaned. These nozzles are commonly connected to branch lines which connect with a header so that steam may be admitted to different points by opening a valve placed in the branch between the header and the nozzle. These valves as now used are operated by hand. Common practice is to admit steam through each branch for a period of about five minutes two or three times a day.

The object of all soot blowers isto remove the accumulation of solid matter which deposits from the gases upon the tubes thereby increasing the resistance to heat flow from the gases to the medium within the tubes and thereby decreasing the efliciency of the heating process. When a soot blower is used intermittently as above described the solid matter which deposits during the eight or ten hours between the periods of blowing, has time to bake on the tube and is therefore much more diflicult to remove and ordinarily cannot all be removed by the blowing process, but must be scraped off. Furthermore I have found by experiment in the case of water tube boilers that the soot which deposits on the outside of the tubes in a period of two hours is suflicient in many cases to decrease the efliciency of the boiler over three per cent. For example in a certain boiler the temperature of the flue gases when operating under uniform conditions immediately after blowing the tubes was 450 F. Two hours after blowing, due ,to the accumulation of soot on the external wall of the tubes, the temperature had risen to 5259 1? thus increasing the loss due to inefficient soot blowing, over three per cent.

At the end of a fifteen minute period the temperature of the gases had risen to 465 F. which showed that in order to keep the surfaces clean and maintain a maximum economy in the absorption of heat that the tubes should have been blown oftener than every fifteen'minutes. With the hand operated means of operating sootblowers it would of course not be possible to open the valves and blow the tubes every fifteen min utes without requiring an excessive amount of labor and furthermore, the manual operation of opening and closing the valves is slow and would consequently consume large quantities of steam which would offset any economy that would be efi'ected through the frequent blowing of the tubes.

In my apparatus I propose to remove the soot by means of steam or air under pressure admitted to the nozzles in short quick ufis and instead of blowing once every eig t or ten hours, I propose to blowvor admit a puff of steam to the nozzles of each branch, once every few minutes thereby making it impossible for the solid matter to have time to bake on the tube and at the saine time preventing the loss; of heat due to the intermittent methodof blowing. If, in the old system the tubes are blown three timesa day and each branch is blown 'for a period of five minutes the valve in each branch discharges steam for a total period of fifteen minutes during the twenty-four hours. In my system the tubes are blown at intervals of from three to ten minutes depending. upon the amount of soot accumulating upon the tubes. If each branch is blown every five minutes two hundred eighty-eight pufis would be delivered from each branch per twenty-four hours and the valves would be open for a period approximately one second for each pufi'. The length of time that the valve in each branch would be open in twenty-four side elevation, while Figure 2 is a plan view of a water tube boiler, to which my soot blowing apparatus has been attached.

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the branch distributing pipes. Fig. 4 is a front View of a contact plate. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the assembled shaft and contact plates. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the contact plates and connections to be solenoid valves. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through a water tube boiler provided with a soot blower of the stationary type. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the boiler shown in Fig. 7.

In these figures like numerals refer to like parts. 3 indicates the drums of the boiler, 2 the rear header and 2 the front header, in which the tubes 1 are expanded in the ordinary manner. 6 indicates the side walls while 7 indicates the furnace and 5 the outlet for the flue gases. 8 are the bafhes which direct the ases through the tubes 1. 4 is the nozzle or the discharge of steam from the boilers. 9 is a steam main supplied with steam under boiler pressure which is connected at some point to the steam distribution system about the plant. 12, 12' and 12" are branch pipes from the main 9. 10, 10' and 10 are quick opening steam valves of the solenoid type in which the valve is held on its seat by a spring and which is lifted against the force of the spring through a solenoid when an electric circuit is closed. When the circuit is broken the spring again seats the valve. The valves are common to the art and require no further description. To the branches 12, 12' and 12" are connected the nozzle pipes 16 through the elbows 13 and the stufling boxes 14. 17 are nozzles in the pipes 16 which are adapted to discharge steam into the bank of tubes 1. The nozzle pipes 16 have sprocket wheels 15 rigidly attached to them. The nozzle pipes 16 are supported rotatably in the stuffing boxes 14' and in the bearings 34, the latter being mounted in the side wall 6.

The nozzle pipes 16 are rotated by the sprockets 15 which are driven by the chains 11, which are in turn driven by the sprockets 18 rigidly mounted on the shaft 19, which is mounted in the bearings 20 and adapted to be rotated continuously by a variable speed motor 23 which is mounted on the wall 21 and drives through the gears 22.

0n the shaft 19 are rigidly mounted contact arms 25, 25' and 25", an enlarged section of one of these is shown in Figure 5. The contact arms are provided with contact pieces slidably mounted and held against the contact plates'24, 24' and 24 by springs 27. On the wall 21 are mounted brackets 29 which support the contact plates 24, 24 and 24" about the shaft 19 and adjacent the contact arms 25, 25' and 25". The contact plates consist of the insulating discs 40 which are preferably of :late or hard rubber which are bolted to the brackets 29 by the bolts 30. In the discs 40 are imbedded the metal strips 31 carrying the contact points a, b, c", d, e, f, g, and h. The strips 31 are bolted to the discs 40 by the bolts 38. 35 is a nut which holds the connection 36 to the electric circuit in place. When the shaft 19 revolves the contact piece 26 travels over the contact points a, b, 0, etc but does not come'in contact with the strip 31.

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing the connections for operating the solenoid valves 10, 10. and 10 through the contact plates 24, 24 and 24", through the contact arms 25, 25, and 25". By the closing of the switch 43 connection is made with a source of electrical energy which passes along one side of the circuit 42 and connects through the lines 46, 46 and 46 to the shaft 19. The lines 46, 46 and 46 are shown to complete the diagrammatic arrangement, as only one connection to the shaft is necessary, the shaft 19 and the three contact armsform one and the same circuit. The side of the circuit 41 connects to the solenoid 10, 10' and 10 and passes through these to the lines 44, 44 and 44 respectively. These lines connect to the strip 31 of the contact plates 24, 24 and 24 respectively. The shaft 19 rotates in a counter clockwise direction and as the arm 25 touches the contact point a on the contact plate 24 the electric circuit is closed and the solenoid 10 lifts the valve off of its seat and as the arm 25 passes off of the contact point a on its way to b the circuit is broken and the valve seats itself by the action of the spring, not shown. The contact arm 25' is set a little behind the contact arm 25 so that the solenoid 10 operates a few seconds after the solenoid 10 is operated. The arm 25" is set a little behind the arm 25' so that the solenoid 10 operates a few seco'd s after the solenoid 1.0. This arrangemft is used so that the branch 12 will blow first, and before the soot has time to settle itself on the tubes 1, blown by the branch 12, the solenoid 10 operates to blow the tubes covered by 12' and before the soot from the tubes covered by 12 and 12 has time to settle on the. tubes covered. by 12" the solenoid 10" operates to blow these tubes and the soot from all the tubes passes out through the uptake 5 with the flue gases.

Eight contact points a, b, 0' etc. are arranged on each contact plate 24, 24 and 24" and these contact points are arranged so that for each revolution of the nozzle pipes 16 each branch 12, 12 and 12" blows in eight different positions marked a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h on Figure 1. By this arrangement it will be seen that all portions of the tubes are carefully blown and that the dust from the front end of the tubes does not have an opportunity to settle on the 'rear portion of the tubes.

The contact arms 25 are adj ustably. mounted 011 the shaft 19 so that they may be ad justed to cause the branches 12, 12' and 12" to blow in any given order of succession or all of them to blow simultaneously. A variable speed motor 23 is used to drive the shaft 19 so that any desired time interval may be obtained between the blows. For the purpose of regulating the time of the blow, that is the actual length of time that the solenoids hold the valves open the contact pieces 26 are varied in width, also the contact points a, b, etc. If very short quick puffs are desired, the contact'piece 26 would be about of an inch thick while the contact points a, Z), etc., would be of like width. If a longer period of blow were desired contact pieces 26 l; of an inch wide which would double the period of blow, or contact pieces of an inch wide which would quadruple the time of the blow could be used.

Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a water tube boiler which is provided with a soot blower of the stationary type in which the nozzles discharge parallel to the tubes instead of at an angle to the tubes as shown in Figure 1. My device can be equally well applied to this system of soot blowing. The steam is admitted through the main 9 and the solenoid operated valves 10, 10' and 10 are placed in the branches 12, 12' and 12". In this arrangement the nozzle pipes 16 are provided with nozzles 17 which are located between the tubes 1 as shown in Figure 7, which is a part section on the line was looking toward the branch 12. The shaft 19 rotates the arms '25, 25 and 25" which make the contacts thereby operating the. solenoids 10, 10 and 10 as previously set forth.

In order to make it possible to blow the tubes in the case of an accident to the motor or shafting switches 45. 15' and 45 are provided for closing the circuits to the solenoids 10, 10 and 1( During normal operation the switches 45, 15 and -15 remain open.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided novel means for the continuous removal of soot from heating surfaces. It should be understood that this specification and the accompanying drawings show typical arrangements of my apparatus. My apparatus and mv improvements can be applied to any soot blowing system of the type described. It is immaterial as to the type of a boiler. the number of branches necessary or the arrangement of the branches. It is further immaterial as to the type of quick opening valve used. This may be avalve operated through a mechanical trip or operated by a hydraulic or steam cylinder. I prefer, however, the solenoid operated type. It also would not be considered a departure from the intent of my improvements to place a quick opening valve in the main 9 and discharge through this valve to one or more branches.

Having thus described my improvements what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In a soot blowing system comprising a main with a plurality of branches, means for producing the continuous discharge of the blowing medium in the form of pufls from made to occur in given fixed positions and adjustable means for varying the position of the nozzles with relation to the time of the puffs, whereby the said puffs maybe made to occur in any given fixed position.

3. In a soot blowing system, a supply pipe, a. plurality of branches from the said supply pipe, a quick opening valve located in each of the said branches, andaneans for continuously opening and closing eadh of the said quick opening valves at regular intervals.

4:. Inasoot b1owingsystem,a supply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said supply pipe, a quick opening valve located in each of the said branches, means for the continuous periodic opening and closing of each of the said quick opening valves and a plurality of lateral nozzles forming the terminus of each branch.

5. In a soot blowing system, a steam supply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said supply )ipe, a quick opening valve located in each of the said branches, means for the continuous periodic opening and closing of each of the said quickopening valves whereby steam is admitted in the form of pufi's to the said branches, means for varying the period of time between the said openings and a plurality of lateral nozzles forming the terminus of each branch.

6. In a soot blowing system, a steam supply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said supply pipe, a quick opening valve located in each of the said branches, means for the continuous periodic opening and closing of each of the said quick opening valves, whereby steam is discharged in the form of pufls through the said branches, means for varying the period of time between the said openings, independent means for varying thetime of opening for each branch of the said system whereby the said branches may be made to open in any given order of succession and a plurality of lateral nozzles forming the end of each branch.

7 In a soot blowing system, a steam supply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said supply pipe, a quick opening valve located in each of the said branches, means for the continuous periodic opening and closing of each of the said valves, whereby steam is discharged in the form of pufis through each of the said branches, means for varying the period of time between the openings, inde pendent means for varying the time of opening for each branch of the said system whereby the said branches may be made to open in any given order of succession and a plurality of lateral nozzles forming the end of each branch.

8. In a soot blowing system, a steam sup ply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said supply\ pipe, a quick opening valve located in each of the said branches, means for the continuous periodic opening and closing of each of the said valves, whereby steam is discharged in the form of puffs through each of the said branches, a plurality of lateral nozzles forming the end of each branch and means for moving the said nozzles in synchronism with the opening of the said valves.

9. In a soot blowing system, a supply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said supply pipe, quick opening Valve located in each of the said branches, means for the continuous periodic opening and closing of each of the said valves, a plurality of nozzles forming the end of each branch, means for mov- 4O ing the said nozzles in synchronism with the opening of the said Valves and adjustable means whereby the synchronous opening of the said valves and the directing of the said nozzles for each branch may be made to follow in any given order of succession.

10. In a soot blowing system comprising a main with a plurality of branches, a solenoid operated Valve in each of the said branches, a rotatable electrical contact means for each of the said solenoid'operated valves, a rotatable nozzle pipe forming the terminus of each of the said branches and common means for rotating the said electrical contact means and the said nozzle pipes whereby steam is continuously discharged at regular intervals in the form of puffs from the said branches and the said nozzle pipes direct the said puffs to different portions of the heating surface to be cleaned.

11. In a soot blowing system, a supply pipe, a plurality of branches from the said sup-ply pipe, a solenoid operated valve in each of the said branches, a stationary contact plate for each of the said solenoid operated valves, a shaft, a rotating contact arm for each of the said contact plates mounted on the said shaft and adapted, to rotate therewith, an open electric circuit formed by each of the said contact plates, solenoids, contact arms and shaft, means for rotating the said shaft whereby the said electric circuits are alternately closed and opened thereby causing an electric current to flow periodically to each of the solenoids of the said solenoid operated valves whereby steam in the form of puffs is discharged through the said branches of the said system.

l2. In a soot blowing system, a supply plpe, one or more branches from the said supply pipe, a solenoid operated valve in each of the said branches, a stationary contact plate for each of the said solenoid operated valves, a shaft, a rotating contact arm for each of the said contact plates mounted on the said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, an open electric circuit formed by each of the said contact plates, solenoids, contact arms and shaft, means for rotating the said shaft, a rotatable nozzle pipe forming the terminus of each of the said branches, a sprocket wheel rigidly mounted on each of the said nozzle pipes, a sprocket wheel for each of the said nozzle pipes rigidly mounted on the said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a sprocket chain connecting the sprocket on each of the said nozzle pipes with one of the sprockets mounted on the said shaft whereby the rotation of the said shaft causes the rotation of the said nozzle pipes and the rotation of the said contact arms thereby continuously opening and closing the said solenoid operated valves, whereby steam is continuously discharged at regular intervals from the said nozzle pipes upon different portions of the heating surface to be cleaned.

. 13. In a soot blowing system, a supply pipe, one or more branches from the said supply pipe, a solenoid operated valve in each of the said branches, a stationary contact plate for each of the said solenoid operated valves, a shaft, a rotating contact arm for each of the said contact plates mounted on the said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, an open electric circuit formed by each of he said contact plates, solenoids, contact arms and shaft, means for rotating the said shaft, a rotatable nozzle pip form ing the terminus of each of the said branches, a sprocket wheel rigidly mounted on each of the said nozzle pipes, a sprocket wheel for each of the said nozzle pipes rigidly mounted on the said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a sprocket chain connee-ting the sprocket on each of the said nozzle pipes with one of the sprockets mounted on the said shaft whereby the rotation of the said shaft causes the rotation of the said nozzle pipes and. the rotation of the said contact arms thereby continuously opening and closing the said solenoid operated valves whereby steam is continuously discharged in the form of pufis at regular intervals from the said nozzle pipes upon the different portions of the heating surface to be cleaned and the said contact arms adjustably mount ed on the said shaft whereby the said puffs from the different branches of the said system may be made to follow in any given order of succession substantially as described.

1 A boiler cleaner comprising a rotatably mounted fluid distributor having openings therein; means for controlling the delivery of fluid to said distributor, automatic means for operating said control means; and means for rotating said distributor synchronously with the operation of said controlling means.

15. A soot cleaning apparatus for boilers comprising in combination a blower member having a series of laterally disposed outlets, a steam supply member in communication with said blower member, a valve for controlling the discharge of steam to said outlets, means for imparting movement to the blower member about its longitudinal axis wherebyto direct the jets of steam to different portions of the boiler to clean the same, the said last mentioned means being operatively associated with said valve whereby the valve automatically opens and closes in synchronism with the movement of the blower member and remains open during a predetermined movement of the blower member about its longitudinal axis.

16. A soot cleaning apparatus for boilers comprising in combination a blower member having a series of laterally disposed outlets, a steam supply member in communication with the blower member, a valve for controlling the passage of stear to said outlets. means for imparting movement to the blower member about its longitudinal axis whereby to direct the jets of steam to different portions of the boiler to clean the same. and means interconnecting the operation of said valve and blower member whereby upon the operation of one of them the other will be automatically operated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAUDE M. GARLAND. lVitnesses MYRTLE B. GARLAND, RALPH G. INGERsoLL. 

